Azuki bean A small red bean used in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean cuisine, usually sweetened and boiled into red bean paste, which may be used for soups, breads, sweets, beverages, etc. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Bento A cold lunch served in a special Japanese lunchbox that has separate compartments. Usually carried to school by children. (Definition taken from Anime Insider magazine.) See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Bubble tea (which can also go by pearl tea or several other names for different varieties, in both English and Chinese) is a kind of tea invented in Taiwan, which has "boba" (pearls of tapioca or jelly) sitting at the bottom of the cup, which are sucked up through a wide straw, along with the drink itself. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Dango Type of dumplings, similar to mochi, often served with three or four on a skewer, along with green tea. Seen in lots of different animes. See also odango (clothing page, under "fashion trends.") See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Dashi A soup stock commonly used in Japanese cooking as a base for miso soup and other things. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Donburi means "bowl," and it can refer to various simmered stews served over rice, as well as to the type of bowl in which such dishes are served. See Wikipedia.

Fugu is the Japanese puffer fish (see flora & fauna page), which you may remember from an episode of the Simpsons. It contains poison, so it requires great care and skill in the preparation, or it could be deadly to eat. See About.com, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Gari Sliced, pickled ginger, usually eaten between dishes of sushi, to cleanse the palate. (Although personally, I like to eat it on my sushi.) See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Gohan Literally "cooked rice," but it also means "food" or "meal" (because rice is such a staple). See Everything2.

Gyokuro is a kind of green tea, which has been refined, made from the choicest leaves, and is considered the best of Japan's teas. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Hanamizake A term used for sake when drunk while viewing cherry blossoms.

Ichigo Strawberry.

Hojicha is made from regular sencha and bancha tea leaves which have been roasted until they turn brown. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Kajitsushu Fruit wine.

Kakigori Shaved ice with syrup of various flavors, a popular summer treat. Basically, think "snow cone in a bowl." See Wikipedia.

Miso shiru Miso soup. Miso is basically soy bean paste, though it comes in a number of varieties which may include various condiments & styles of preparation. Personally, I'm not real interested in miso in and of itself, but it can be good as a soup stock. See Wikipedia or Everything2.

Mochi ice cream Little balls of ice cream with a mochi coating, sort of. Actually more like just a rice powder coating, I guess. It's interesting. See Mochi Ice Cream, Wikipedia, or Everything2.

Momo Peach.

Narutomaki Steamed fish-paste cake (kamaboko), sliced to decorate soup or ramen. The cakes are cylindrical, white with a pink swirl inside. The swirl shape is called uzumaki (see general terminology page). Narutomaki is commonly called simply "naruto," which is also the name of an anime series and its main character, Naruto Uzumaki; his name is a reference to the fish cakes and the spiral inside. See FishBase.

Ramen A type of Chinese noodles which have become popular in Japan (and with college students everywhere). Although Americans are most familiar with the cheap brands, there are plenty of more expensive (and better) varieties. See Japan Guide, TV Tropes, Wikipedia or Everything2.